1960 Ford Sunliner

1960 Ford Sunliner

If you need a little lime for your Tequila, Armando Chavez's 1960 Ford Sunliner may just be what you're looking for. This "Big-Time" resto and custom is going to be just the thing to cruise to MargaritaVille in on a lazy California summer evening. The final package will include a high-performance 351 Cleveland motor, a C-6 automatic transmission, and a 9-inch Currie rear-end with 4-link. All for corners will be air-bagged and equipped with Stainless Steel Brake Corp. disc brakes. The interior will be handled by Mangus at Custom Auto Interiors. And, as the artists conception suggests, it will be slammed right to the ground. We may even chop the rag top.

A new day in the sun...



This 60 Ford Sunliner has certainly seen better days in the sun, but today is a new day and it's time for an automotve makeover.



Disassembly is underway and Richard catalogs all the parts as they come off.





The Sunliner is HUGE car, but it has a teeny little trunk. Go figure. I guess they needed room for those massive horizontal stabilizers. From the rear it sort of has that jet fighter look going for it.





In spite of the surface rust, the metal in this beast is pretty solid and won't require lots of repair.



Clipped Clip





To get that slammed look will require major modifications to the front end. To start with, we're getting rid of it.



Now that is one heavy-duty frame. Most rucks don't have frames that big and sturdy.





Back to our front end. The basis for this front end will be a TCI Mustang II which we will modify to suit the needs of the Sunliner.





The only boxing needed on this frame will be on the portions we fabricate ourselves. This one is already boxed and has an I-beam cross-member. It would take a whole lot torque and horsepower to tweak this baby.



That frame probably weighs more than most of today's cars...

Bodywork Commences



Fortunately, this body came to us very straight and does not require major work straightening and repairing sheet metal.









Just some touch-up work and smoothing out some problems areas.









Getting the proper slant on things...





Part of this project includes slanting the windshield and recessing it into dash. This will have the same effect as if we had chopped an inch or so out of the frame.



The body is back on the frame and the fenders are getting worked over and fitted to the new front end.









Before removing the windshield, a support was welded in to keep the body from bending or twisitng out of shape.



The windshield is back in place. Time to get the top up and properly positioned.



Bracing is installed in the windshield to so it will keep its shape as well. It has been recessed and welded back into place.









Since the windshield has been moved, so must the rag-top hardware. You can see where the top mounts were originally located.

Back from the body shop.





A TCI Mustang II front clip with power rack will keep things running true up front.





A No-Limit hood flip kit will help get the sunliner noticed at shows. With that much space, Mr. Chavez can rent the hood as a billboard between shows.





A better look at the flip kit. The kit used is designed for 55-57 trucks according to No-Limit.









The disc brakes (13") are from SSBC, and will go on all four corners.





A Vintage Air AC and heater system will handle climate control when the top is up (it's not always sunny in California...). That's a Kugel power brakes booster and pedel setup next to it.





The old firewall was cut out and replaced by a custom one that has been cleaned up.





Check Out this Website For The Finished Project